Closure for squeezable containers



Filed NOV. 26, 1963 FIG.2

FIG.9

INVENTOR. KA R1. M A) CH EN A TTORNEYS United States Patent O 3,224,030 CLOSURE FOR SQUEEZABLE CONTAINERS Karl Maichen, Lauterach 269, Austria Filed Nov. 26, 1963, Ser. No. 326,118 Claims priority, application Austria, Nov. 29, 1962, A 9,364/ 62 7 Claims. (Cl. 15-543) This invention relates to a closure for squeeze containers, particularly for tubes, which closure opens automatically for the discharge of the contents of the tube under the influence of the pressure produced in the container when the same is squeezed, whereas the closure closes automatically when the pressure in the interior of the container is reduced because the squeezing of the container is terminated.

An essential object of the invention is to keep the outlet opening of the closure constantly free of residues.

It is another object of the invention to ensure a steady flow of the contents of the tube from the beginning of the discharge, without undesired spattering.

Finally, it is an object of the invention to prevent the sucking of air into the space which has been emptied by the discharge of tube contents.

These objects are accomplished in that the closure comprises a cap of resilient material, which returns to its original position after a deformation and which is mounted on a container head having an outlet opening, said cap having a continuous slit, which opens under the iniiuence of a pressure produced in the interior of the container, and means being provided for sealing the slit when the container is not being used.

Five embodiments of the closure according to the invention are shown by way of example on the drawing.

FIG. 1 shows the upper portion of a tube with a tube head shown in axial section.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on line II-II of FIG. l.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view showing the tube head when the closure member has been removed.

FIG. 4 is an axial longitudinal sectional view showing another embodiment of a tube closure.

FIG. 5 is an axial longitudinal sectional view showing a further embodiment of a tube closure for being screwed onto tubes having a conventional screw-threaded neck.

FIG. 6 is a top plan view showing the tube closure according to FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view showing another embodiment of a tube closure.

FIG. 8 is `a perspective view showing `a detail of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is an axial longitudinal sectional view showing a fifth embodiment of the tube closure.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a detail of FIG. 9.

In the embodiment of the tube closure shown in FIGS. l to 3, the neck 1 of the tube 2 has a hemispherical top portion 3, which has two cardioid outlet openings 5, which are separated by a web 4. The top portion 3 is covered by a cap 6 of resilient material, such as rubber or plastic, which returns to its original shape after a deformation. The lower rim 7 of the cap 6 is turned inwardly and around the free rim 8 of the top portion 3. Adjacent to the web 4, the cap 6 has a slit 9, which may be made, for instance, in a simple manner by cutting through the cap and which is covered by a lug, or strap, 10, which is at one end integrally joined to the cap 6 close to the rim of the later whereas the other end of the lug has an opening 11, which cooperates with a knob 12 extending from the tube so that the lug is held under initial stress.

When pulled from the knob 12, the lug 10 springs 3,224,930 Patented Dec. 21, 1965 up to expose the slit 9. When the tube is then squeezed, its contents flows through the openings 5 to the cap 6, lifts the same from the web 4, and opens the slit 9. When the pressure ceases, the cap 6 closes owing to its resiliency and tightly engages the web 4 so that the suction created in the tube if its deformation is reversed cannot cause air to enter, which might cause a deterioration or drying of the contents of the tube.

In the embodiment of the tube closure according to FIG. 4, the tube neck is inclined from the axis of the tube and the lug 10 is provided with a brush 13, a sponge or the like for spreading the mass squeezed out of the tube, for instance, on a surface. Such a tube may be used, eg., for shoe polish. The lug 10 is shown in this figure in its open position in dotted lines.

The tube closure shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 enables the provision of existing tubes having a screw-threaded neck with a tube closure embodying the invention. For this purpose, a spout member 14 is provided, which has an extension 16 formed with a female screw thread 15, by which the spout member 14 is screwed onto the screwthreaded neck of a tube of usual type. The cap 6, which is pot-shaped in this case, is fitted over the top of the spout 14. As distinguished from the previous embodiments of the closure according to the invention, the slit 9 is not arranged in the axial center plane of the spout but laterally, near the top rim of the spout. The lug 10 is replaced by a second cap 17, which constitutes a rotary closure and is fitted onto the spout 14 together with the cap 6 from below over the extension 16. The cap 17 is held on the cap 6 by laterally bent lugs 18 and is formed with a diagonal step 19, which is so high that the upper rim 20 of the lower half 21 of the cap 17 is below the slit 9 of the cap 6.

In the position shown, the higher portion of the cap 17 covers the slit 9 and thus performs the function of the lug 10 described hereinbefore. When it is desired to remove contents from the tube, the cap 17 is first turned through so that the lower portion 21 of the cap 17 lies over the portion of the cap 6 formed with the slit 9, which is thus exposed. In other respects, the closure has the same mode of operation as that of the preceding embodiment.

FIGS. 7 to 10 show further possibilities of mounting the closure according to the invention on conventional tubes, the neck of which has a laterally protruding rim 26 or a similar projection. In this case, a ring 23 is placed on the free top surface 22 of the neck 1. The ring 23 is connected to a bail 24, which extends diametrically across the ring. The ring and bail are suitably integral and may be made from metal or plastics. The cap 6, which is known from preceding embodiments, is applied to the bail 24. The lower rirn 7 of the cap 6 engages the protruding rim 26 of the neck from below. The slit 9 consists again of an incision and is disposed exactly over the bail 24. Two lugs 25 are provided on the inside of the cap adjacent to this slit. These lugs straddle the bail like a roof and contact each other along a portion of their height to increase the tightness of the closure. The lug 10, which has already been described, may be hooked to a knob 12, the arangement of which differs from that of FIG. 4 in that the konb is connected to the ring 23 and extends through the cap 6.

The tube closure shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 differs from the embodiment described last in that there are two bails 24 and 24", which unlike the bail 24 do not cover the slit 9 but act like a clamp to force the lugs 25 together. The 4lugs 25 are suitably upwardly tapered to match the angle between the bails.

The two closures described last have generally the same mode of operation as those described before. In

3 the embodiment shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, however, the opening of the slit 9 is braked by the resilience of the bails 24 and 24". This is an advantage particularly in those cases in which it is desired that the contents of the tube should be discharged under a substantial pressure.

What is claimed is:

1. A closure for squeezable containers, particularly tubes, having a head provided with an opening comprising a cap of resilient material, which returns to its original position after a deformation and which is mountable on said container head, said cap having a continuous slit, which opens under the influence of a pressure produced in the interior of a container on which the cap may be mounted, and means for sealing the slit when the container is not being used including a lug on the cap overlying said slit and having a free end adapted to be Xed to a stationary closure part, said lug being provided with means for applying the contents of the container.

2. A closure according to claim 1 wherein said lug comprises a strap of resilient material secured near one end to the cap, the other end of the strap being swingable about said secured end to uncover the slit.

3. A closure according to claim 2 wherein said lug means for applying the container contents comprises a brush aixed to the outer surface of said strap.

4. A closure according to claim 2 wherein the free end of said strap is provided with an opening adapted to receive a knob fixed to a stationary closure part for locking the strap in covering relation to said slit.

5. A closure as set forth in claim 1, wherein said means for sealing the slit further comprises a bail, which engages the bottom of said slit and is integral with a ring adapted to seat on the head of the container for spacing and supporting said cap.

6. A closure as set forth in claim 5, wherein said resilient cap is provided with two internal lugs on opposite sides of the slit and which engage the bail for internally sealing the slit.

7. A closure as set forth in claim 6, characterized in that the lugs contact each other along a portion of their height and engage the bail and their free ends have a rooflike conguration.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,765,281 6/1930 MacDonald 222-490 2,123,694 7/1938 Denbow et al 22-490 2,285,227 6/1942 Pernu 222-491 2,314,538 3/ 1943 Hollenbeck 222-490 X 2,667,992 2/1954 Hammond et al. 222-490 X 3,122,287 2/1964 Makowski 222-543 RAPHAEL M. LUPO, Primary Examiner.

CHARLES R. CARTER, Examiner. 

1. A CLOSURE FOR SQUEEZABLE CONTAINERS, PARTICULARLY TUBES, HAVING A HEAD PROVIDED WITH AN OPENING COMPRISING A CAP OF RESILIENT MATERIAL, WHICH RETURNS TO ITS ORIGINAL POSITION AFTER A DEFORMATION AND WHICH IS MOUNTABLE ON SAID CONTAINER HEAD, SAID CAP HAVING A CONTINUOUS SLIT, WHICH OPENS UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF A PRESSURE PRODUCED IN THE INTERIOR OF A CONTAINER ON WHICH THE CAP MAY BE MOUNTED, AND MEANS FOR SEALING THE SLIT WHEN THE CONTAINER IS NOT BEING USED INCLUDING A LUG ON THE CAP OVERLYING SAID SLIT AND HAVING A FREE END ADAPTED TO BE FIXED TO A STATIONARY CLOSURE PART, SAID LUG BEING PROVIDED WITH MEANS FOR APPLYING THE CONTENTS OF THE CONTAINER. 